An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of the Agadir Ida Ou Tanane province (southwest Morocco)

Objective: As part of the development of natural heritage of Morocco, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the region of Agadir Ida Ou Tanane (Southwest Morocco) with the aim to collect detailed information about the usage of plants in human therapy.Methodology and results: The survey was carried out over a period of 24 months, by means of semi-structured and structured interviews. A total of 400 interviews were done with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. Data collected was on, vernacular names of plants, their uses, parts used and mode of preparation. Other information about users was also collected such as age, sex, level of education. A total of 110 plants species belonging to 53 families and 95 genera were inventoried with 7.27 % of the species endemic to Morocco. Plants frequently used were: Thymus satureioides (Tazouknnit, Zaitra), Thymus broussonnetii (Azoukni, Zaater), Argania spinosa (Argan), Tetraclinis articulata (Azouka, Aârar) and Lavandula dentate (Igerch, Halhal). The elderly (more than 50 years) have more knowledge in medicinal plants with regard to the other age groups, this indicates that knowledge was acquired by long experience accumulated.Conclusion and application of results: This survey shows that traditional medicine is still used and constituted a very rich heritage in Agadir Ida Ou Tanane Region. The collected data may help to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants detained in the study area, and represent the preliminary information required in view of a future phytochemical investigation on the most used plants.Key words: Ethnobotanical survey, medicinal plants, phytotherapy, Agadir Ida Ou Tanane province, southwest of Morocco

Analysis of phenotypic plasticity of argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) under different geographical conditions and identification of morphological descriptors determinant for its genetic diversity

Un grand échantillonnage d'arganiers (Arganiaspinosa L.) a été établi dans les cinq provinces d’écosystèmes d'arganiers. L'objectif principal de l'étude était d'évaluer et de décrire la variation génétique des arganiers à l'aide d'analyses uni-variées et multi-variées et de décrire leur productivité dans différentes conditions géographiques. 150 arbres sauvages ont été échantillonnés dans divers sites représentant la principale aire de répartition naturelle d’arganier : (Had Dra / Essaouira, Aoulouz / Taroudant, Alma / Agadir-Ida Outanane, Biougra / Chtouka-Ait Baha et Lakhsas / Tiznit). Les traits qualitatifs et quantitatifs liés à l'arbre, au fruit, à la graine et à l'amandier ont été utilisés pendant trois ans dans le terrain pour l'arbre (n = 150) et dans laboratoire pour les fruits (n = 37800), pour évaluer la variation génétique au sein et entre les provenances. Les résultats obtenus par l'analyse de la variance, selon le modèle linéaire général (P ≤ 0,001), ont montré une grande variation pour tous les traits. De plus, l’indice de diversité de Shannon-Weaver (H’) varie pour différents caractères qualitatifs. La distribution inter et intra-provenances de cette variance a été étudiée. Les résultats montrent que pour la productivité sous différentes conditions géographiques, 30 kg de fruits donnent 17 kg de graines, 2 kg d'amandes, 15 kg de coque et 1/2 L d'huile. La variation génétique est principalement présente entre et au sein des sites étudiés. Sur la base de l'analyse hiérarchique, respectivement, deux groupes ont été obtenues. Le premier groupe est composé de  deux provenances : Had Dra et Biougra, avec les valeurs moyennes des traits les plus élevées. Le deuxième groupe est présenté par les provenances Alma, Aoulouz et Lakhsas. En général, une grande variabilité a été notée et non associée à l'origine éco-géographique. Ainsi, le degré élevé de variation entre les génotypes pourrait être utile pour les programmes de sélection et d’amélioration.A large sampling of argan trees (Argania spinosa L.) has been established in the five provinces of argan ecosystems. The main objective of the study was to assess and describe the genetic variation using univariate and multivariate analyses and to describe their productivity under different geographical conditions. 150 wild trees were sampled across various sites representing the principal natural range of argan trees area: (Had Dra/Essaouira, Aoulouz /Taroudant, Alma/Agadir-Ida Outanane, Biougra/Chtouka-Ait Baha and Lakhsas/Tiznit). The qualitative and quantitative traits related to tree, fruit, seed and almond were used during three years in the fields (n = 150) for the tree and the laboratory for the fruits (n = 37800) to evaluate the genetic variation within and among provenances. The results obtained from the analysis of the variance, according to the general linear model (P ≤ 0.001), showed a large variation for all the traits. Furthermore, the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) varied for different qualitative characters. The inter- and intra-provenance distribution of this variance was investigated. The results showed that for the productivity under different geographical conditions, 30 kg of fruit gives 17 kg of seed, 2 kg of almond, 15 kg of hull and 1/2 L of oil. The genetic variation is mainly present among and within sites studied. Based on the hierarchical cluster analysis, respectively, two clusters were obtained. The first cluster is composed of the two provenances: Had Dra and Biougra, with the highest means values of traits. The second cluster presented by the Alma, Aoulouz and Lakhsas, provenances with lowest means values of traits studied. In general, great variability was noted and not associated with eco-geographical origin. So, the high degree of variation among genotypes could be useful for selection and breeding programs

Antioxidant activity, phenols and flavonoids contents and antibacterial activity of some Moroccan medicinal plants against tomato bacterial canker agent

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) belonging to 16 species, currently used in southern Moroccan traditional medicine, were evaluated here, firstly, for the action of their aqueous extracts against the bacterial canker agent of tomato in vitro. Then the phenolic contents, flavonoids contents and antioxidant capacities of these MAP extracts were estimated. Results obtained show that tested species exhibited biological activity toward the pathogen studied here; the inhibition zone diameter was between 0.5 and 4.88 cm. Furthermore, tested species exhibited a board range of phenolic contents varying from 55.58 ± 5.07 to 3.98 ± 0.16 mg of Cafeic acid equivalents (CAE) per gram of dry weight (DW). The flavonoids contents varied from 19.82 ± 0.65 to 1.74 ± 0.34 mg of Rutine equivalents (RE) per g of DW. Significant and positive linear correlations were found between total phenolic contents (R = 0.87 and R2 = 0.76), flavonoids contents (R = 0.96 and R2 = 0.93) and the biologic activity (IZ diameters) of the aqueous extracts. The antioxidant capacity expressed as Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity (TEAC) varied from 550.67 to 1.18 mM per 100 g dry weight. Significant and positive linear correlation was found also between antioxidant capacities and both phenolic and flavonoids contents. These results proved that the richness of MAP with phenols and flavonoids was involved in there antibacterial activity and there antioxidant capacity. This finding is useful and can contribute to the development of potent and natural bio pesticides in the future for the control of bacterial canker of tomato as well as other phytopathogens by exploiting MAP compounds accepted by consummators and environmentalists.Keywords: Bacterial canker, tomato, medicinal plants, biological control, flavonoids, Trolox equivalents antioxidant capacity (TEAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(49) 4515-452

Antifungal activity of Moroccan plants against citrus fruit pathogens

The aim of this study was to find an alternative to the chemical fungicides currently used in the control of postharvest citrus fruit diseases. Here we screened twenty-one medicinal and aromatic plants used in southern Moroccan traditional medicine for their activity against Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum and Geotrichum candidum. The antifungal efficacy of powders, essential oils and solvent extracts of these plants was tested in vitro by using the agar plates method. Our results show that among the 21 plants tested, the powders of Thymus leptobotrys, Cistus villosus and Peganum harmala plants totally inhibited the growth of all three pathogens. Furthermore, the powder of the Eucalyptus globulus plant totally inhibited the mycelial growth of both G. candidum and P. digitatum, whereas the powders of Juglans regia and Myrtus communis plants completely inhibited the mycelial growth of G. candidum, and the powder of the Arenaria rubra plant totally inhibited the growth of the P. digitatum fungus. The essential oils, as well as the methanolic and chloroformic extracts of plants with the highest antifungal activity, were tested against the mycelial growth of the three pathogens. The results indicate that only the essential oils and the chloroformic extract of the T. leptobotrys plant totally inhibited the three pathogens. These results demonstrate that plant-derived products have a high potential to control fungal diseases of citrus fruits. Such biopesticides therefore represent a sustainable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides

Aridity or low temperatures : what affects the diversity of plant-parasitic nematode communities in the Moroccan argan relic forest ?

Farming activities that are likely to induce the development of emerging pests increasingly disturbs the Argan Biosphere in Morocco. Considering that plant-parasitic nematodes strongly contribute to the decrease in plant growth production, a survey was conducted in the Argan Biosphere in order to assess nematode diversity and distribution. It was established that the parasitic nematofauna was rich, with 70 species belonging to 34 genera and 12 families. Species with high plant decay potential belonging to Longidoridae, Heteroderidae, Hoplolaimidae, Meloidogynidae, Paratylenchidae and Pratylenchidae are present in the argan forest. Telotylenchus sp., Paratylenchus microdorus and Paratylenchus veruculatus, Xiphinema italiae and Xiphinema pachtaicum (virus-transmitting nematodes), and Helicotylenchus crassatus are the most dominant species. Populations of root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) and lesion (Pratylenchus spp.) nematodes are also present. Climate forces have driven the structuration of the argan forest to topoclimatic landscapes that led the diversity of the plant-parasitic nematodes communities. The north-south typology of the arid climate affects the richness and the taxonomic and functional diversity of nematodes, while the west-east temperature typology mainly affects the abundance of nematodes, especially of colonizing species. The emergence of plant-parasitic nematode problems as a consequence of intensive agroforestry or argan orchard development is considered

Phytoseiidae et insectes prédateurs associées aux plantes de la réserve de biosphère de l’arganeraie

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Essential oil composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of wild and cultivated Lavandula mairei Humbert

International audienceLavandula mairei is an endemic and rare plant species growing in the mountains from the southeast to the southwest of Morocco. It is an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. To our knowledge, no data are available on the chemical composition and the biological activities of L. mairei essential oils (EOs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cultivation on the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of EOs isolated from L. mairei. The hydrodistilled oils obtained from wild and cultivated L. mairei were analyzed by GC/ MS. Twenty-three compounds were identified representing more than 98% of both EOs (wild and cultivated). Oils were characterized by high amount of carvacrol (78.29 and 76.61% for wild and cultivated EO respectively). The antioxidant and antibacterial assays revealed that the two EOs tested showed significant activities. The results highlighted that cultivation affected neither the chemical composition nor the biological activities of L. mairei. Cultivation of L. mairei may constitute an alternative to the conservation of this species